Critical Design Reseach

Friedrich Becker: Kinetic Jewelry

Gold and moonstone ring, 1956

Through which hole would i put my finger through?

The above Gold and Moonstone ring is a great example of criticality that produces a tactile element to jewelry. It is designed in such a way where one can where it two ways. Why should there be only one specific orientation or way to slip on a ring.

Friedrich Becker was one of many who followed a rationalist aesthetic stemming from the Bauhaus philosophy (of the kinetic effect/ human interaction), Soviet Constructivism, and ‘objective’/ social realism. His rings were designed for their visual and kinetic effect and thus consider the fact that they are placed on the finger and become integrated in the movements of their wearer.

Below is another example of Becker’s ring, which bears much similarity to an example Kristen Foster showed in her powerpoint presentation.